NCJ Number
55699
Date Published
1978
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE PATHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WHEN ONE EXAMINES DEATHS AND INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH ROBBERY ARE LISTED, AND PRECAUTIONS ARE GIVEN. MUCH OF THE DATA IS BASED ON A DALLAS COUNTY, TEX., MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE STUDY.
Abstract
THE DALLAS STUDY ISOLATED SIX CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF A VICTIM DURING A ROBBERY: (1) ROBBERY VICTIM IS KILLED AS PART OF AN EXPLOSION OF VIOLENT EMOTIONS WITHIN THE ROBBER, EITHER DIRECTED AT THE SPECIFIC VICTIM OR AT SOCIETY IN GENERAL; (2) THE VICTIM IS KILLED TO ELIMINATE AN IDENTIFYING WITNESS; (3) THE KILLING IS PART OF THE SHOW OF FORCE OR EXTORTION ACTION (EITHER AT THE SCENE, OR IF THE VICTIM IS KIDNAPPED, LATER WHEN THE VICTIM BECOMES A LOGISTIC PROBLEM); (4) IT IS A SPONTANEOUS ALARM RESPONSE TO SHOW OF FORCE BY VICTIM; (5) THE DEATH IS INADVERTENLY SUFFERED BY TRAUMA, SUCH AS SMOTHERED BY A GAG, SMOKE INHALATION IF THERE IS ARSON, OR A RICOCHET BULLET; (6) DEATH OCCURS FROM MINOR FORCE COMBINED WITH PREEXISTING DISEASE OR IN COMBINATION WITH FEAR OR STRESS (THE VICTIM WHO SUFFERS A HEART ATTACK). THE SIGNS A PATHOLOGIST SHOULD LOOK FOR UNDER EACH SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES ARE LISTED. WAYS TO DIFFERENTIATE ACCIDENTAL FROM DELIBERATELY INFLICTED DEATH ARE REVIEWED. A SIMILAR LIST GIVES CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE ROBBER IS KILLED. USUALLY THESE DEATHS ARE AT THE HANDS OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR A THIRD PARTY WHO HAPPENS TO BE AT THE SCENE. INADVERTENT DEATH SOMETIMES OCCURS WHEN MINOR INJURY INTENSIFIES PREEXISTING DISEASE OR THE EFFECTS OF DRUG USE. ACCIDENTAL DEATHS OCCUR DURING GETAWAYS AND, OCCASIONALLY, THE ROBBER COMMITS SUICIDE. TABLES SUMMARIZE THE RESULTS OF THE DALLAS STUDY: NUMBER OF VICTIMS KILLED AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES, ROBBERS KILLED AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS DURING ROBBERY, AND WEAPONS USED. THE MEDICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DURING ROBBERY ARE BRIEFLY CONSIDERED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)